WHO AMONG US relishes saddling up and riding when it’s bone-chilling cold outside?

Not me. I’ve never been one to tolerate the cold well.

I’m hoping to change that now that I’ve included an Arctic Riding Skirt to my cold-weather gear.

I’ve spoken with many horse owners who have told me even though they have the clothing, boots and jackets to keep them warm they find it difficult to pry themselves away from a warm house.

To help combat her winter doldrums Sequim’s Natira Hardesty found joining the “Washington Cold Weather Riding Challenge” Facebook group gives her the added incentive she needs to get out and ride during those difficult months.

This is the third year she’s accepted the challenge of committing to riding at least 50 times from the beginning of fall until the last day of winter.

When Hardesty wanted to take the challenge again this year the originator lost interest and allowed three participants — Ash Rzepecki of Olympia, Ashtyn Smith of Auburn and Hardesty — to take the reins.

Most of the participants live in Washington, but one’s in Oregon and another lives in Canada. Hardesty is one of a handful participating from Clallam and Jefferson counties.

I thought 50 rides in five months —26 weeks or about two times a week — sounded easy until I factored in it’s often too dark to ride by the time one saddles up after working, going to school or taking care of other personal responsibilities during the day.

Even with Saturday or Sunday to ride most of us aren’t going to ride two days in a row when it’s cold outside.

Granted, this challenge isn’t designed for those who are already motivated and able to ride two or more times a week on a regular basis.

It’s for the average horse owner who has difficulty getting out to ride after work, school or daily responsibilities.

Oftentimes it seems all we have time to do is muck the stalls and feed and groom our horses.

Hence, this challenge is to help overcome our own mental block, or thoughts such as, “It’s too cold,” “I’m too tired” and so on during the two seasons that are the most difficult to get out and ride.

Of the challenge, Hardesty said it’s all about the “encouragement between competitors. I constantly feel uplifted and pushed to get out there.”

“The first year I wasn’t getting it done at all,” she continued. “I needed something to help me get off my butt and go.”

The group shares tricks and tips on how to keep on riding through the cold, wet and dark weather.

“At the same time I get to build on and better develop the trust and relationship I have with Honey.”

And that’s the crux of the challenge: to motivate oneself or a group of friends to ride in the cold of winter and it’s a way to hold oneself accountable for those rides.

The challenge is for all different horse and rider ages, disciplines, breeds and levels of riding.

“It’s so much fun to watch others’ stories unfold, to follow their progress from year to year. You really feel like you’re getting to know each other,” Hardesty said.

For Hardesty to get in all 50 rides she quickly discovered she needed to set her goals in print by making herself a reasonable schedule she could stick with while working 50-plus hours a week at her day job.

“Now I follow my schedule 24/7 and it feels like a part of me; it feels good.”

She included the goals of items she wants to work on with Honey during the challenge. It’s a task made easier for her because Honey lives at Sequim Valley Stables, which has a small, lighted indoor area.

Actually, it’s thanks to stable owner Darlene Hannigan that Hardesty now has Honey in her life.

You see, Hardesty, 29, is a horse-loving gal who spent her entire life horseless.

It was nine years ago she decided to stop by the Sequim stables to see if she could volunteer to help, even if it was just to pick up manure.

Yes, that’s how much she craved being around horses.

That’s when she met Hannigan and a lasting friendship was born.

And then came Honey, a 3-year-old Icelandic “wild bucking horse who wouldn’t let anyone touch her,” Hardesty said.

She arrived at SWS when Hannigan was asked to take Honey in as a rescue from an out-of-control breeding farm.

At the time Honey had never been handled or touched except to have ropes thrown over her neck when she was cut out of the herd to bring her to Sequim.

It took them a year to get her to calm down enough for them to put a halter on and lead her.

It’s taken years of patiently training on the ground and in the saddle for Honey to become the trusted and willing mount Hardesty, who Hannigan generously gave co-ownership to, rides today.

“Thanks to Darlene I now have a horse, Honey, who is 110 percent my heart horse,” Hardesty said. “I’ve gotten more out of this experience than I ever expected, including some incredible, close friends.”

For more information Sequim Valley Stables, 162 Martha Lane in Sequim, call 360-912-0209.

Take lots of photos

On a personal note I’d like to encourage everyone to get out and take — or have someone else take — good photos of you and your horse (or horses).

I’ve always been the picture taker and have shied away from having photos taken of myself due to vanity — I dislike seeing my overweight body.

Now, I deeply regret having very few photos of myself with Indy.

So get out and capture your memories to print.

________

Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Sunday of each month.

If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.